Obama's football comment raises eyebrows

'If I had a son, I'd have to think long and hard before I let him play'

Published: 01/27/2013 at 1:04 PM

(WEEKLYSTANDARD) — In an interview with the New Republic, President Barack Obama is asked, “I’m wondering if you, as a fan, take less pleasure in watching football, knowing the impact that the game takes on its players.”

“I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football,” says the president of the United States, the father of two young girls. “And I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence. In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won’t have to examine our consciences quite as much.”